An A to Z of Will Drafting

Introduction

Will drafting is one of the most fundamental and high-risk areas of legal practice.

A well-drafted will can not only give testators peace of mind and protect their wishes, but it can prevent disputes, protect beneficiaries and mitigate tax.

Conversely, a poorly drafted will can lead to litigation, professional negligence claims and reputational damage.

It is therefore vital that we are equipped to prepare valid, robust and effective wills.

This in-person seminar will consider the current rules for will drafting, managing your will file and the proposed reforms.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The Wills Act and its requirements
• The layout of wills: common clauses, gifts, and gifts of residue
• Digital assets
• Care fees planning
• Life interest trusts
• Discretionary trusts
• The Residence Nil Rate Band and its impact on drafting
• The Trust Registration service and its impact on will drafting
• Taking instructions
• Capacity assessments
• What could go wrong?
• Modernising wills & The Law Commission’s report